Copy-holder.



A. F. SMITH.

COPY HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26. 1914.

A. F. SMITH.

COPY HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, I914.

$21 6,004. Patented Feb. 13, 1917,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i I oooQooooooorbo 00035 1 I I 0 UNTTED STATES FATENT @FFTG Ti.

ALICE F. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COPY-HOLDER.

Application filed May 26, 1914.

To all w hom it may concern Be it known that I, ALICE F. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Copy- Holders, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to copy holders for holding the typewritten or other copy in view of the typist or operator who is making the copy on a machine. Ordinarily the typist lays a ruler across the copy as a marker below the desired line of print and moves the ruler by hand along the sheet to mark the line that is being copied, or else some other marker is utilized and moved by hand as the copying progresses, but mistakes are apt to be made by these methods, for they cannot be as accurate as an automatic machine for spacing the step by step advance of the marker.

The objects of this invention are to produce a simple and efficient device by means of which a marker laid across the copy will be automatically advanced the required distance, either for single or double spacing, by manipulating the proper lever or finger bar.

The device is adapted to stand upright on a table or other support, and in convenient position for ready manipulation by 'the copyist, so that the finger-bars of the copy-holder may be operated as each line is copied. There is a real need for such an automatic device, because time is saved, copying or type-setting is made more rapid, and the mistakes of recopying the same line or skipping a line are not made with this improved device.

The invention. is shownin one of its preferred forms in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the device;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is arear elevation, and

Fig. 4: is-a vertical sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the a plate or support drawings, A. represents torm g a ta e, h h

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912?.

Serial No. 840,978.

may be of wood or thin sheet metal and of any desired size and dimensions for holding a sheet of paper B of a given size. The paper B represents the copy to be copied by the typist or type-setter and C represents a strip of suitable material as woo-d or metal, forming a marker which lies transversely across the paper B and is adapted to be moved step by step along the table A to indicate the lines of type or print to be copied. As the copying proceeds, the marker (1 is moved downwardly step by step, either in accordance with single or double spacing, as the copy may require.

This step by step movement of the marker C is effected automatically by manual operation of the finger bars or levers D and E, preferably arranged at the lower portion of the table and operatively connected through suitable mechanism to cause the step by step movement of the marker C. In this instance, by pressing down upon the finger bar D, the marker C is moved down through a given distance representing single spacing of typewriting and by pressing down upon the finger bar E the marker C is correspondingly moved down through a space equivalent to double spacing on a typewriter.

Any suitable operative mechanism may be provided for effecting this step by step movement of the marker, but I have shown one suitable form of mechanism embodying ratchet and pawl devices and continuously traveling connections operated thereby.

The table A may be supported in any suitable or convenient manner upon a stand or bracket F, so that the table may be inclined at any desired angle and may be raised and lowered. As shown, the table is provided with a lug or bracket (l to which the upper forked end H of the rod J is pivotally connected as by means of the pawl K and thumb screw L. The rod J forms a telescopic connection with the upright of the stand F andis adjusted in said stand as by means of the set screw 0.

The paper B" is clamped tothe table by any suitable means, as the clamp P having the lugs Q hinged to the bar or pmtle R carried by the lugs S forming a part of the table. The clamp P is normally forced toward the table as by means of the spring T in an obvious manner.

Suitable guides are provided for the marker G comprising rods U preferably secured to the end walls or flanges V of the table inside said flanges and the side walls or flanges W are slotted longitudinally at X in order to permit the connection of the marker C with the operative mechanism beneath the table inside the flanges. This is the preferable construction so that as little as possible of the operating mechanism will be exposed to view.

Slides Y are provided on the guide bars U and these slides Y are connected to the marker C by means of connecting pieces Z, which extend through the slots X and may be provided with blocks a to carry the marker. The marker C is pivoted by means of the pin 6 to one of these blocks and the other end of the marker is preferably provided with a slot 0 which takes over the pin d. A knob or handle 6 is provided for the marker, so that it may be raised and lowered out of engagement with the pin (Z to permit the insertion and removal of the piece of paper B. As the marker moves longitudinally of the table, the guides U serve to keep the marker at right angles to the sides of the table.

A rotary main shaft is revolubly supported in bearings g at the lower end of the table and extends outwardly beyond the sides 01": the table, upon which ends are rigidly mounted the ratchet wheels h and As shown in the drawings, one of these ratchet wheels has double the number of teeth that the other has, and in this instance wheel 72, for controlling single spacing has thirty-six teeth, while wheel j, for controlling double spacing has eighteen teeth, these numbers being selected as suitable for the purposes of illustration. The operative connections between the finger-bars D and E, and their respective wheels h and j are such that the movement of wheel it through the space of one tooth will actuate the marker 0 through the required distance for single line spacing, while the movement of wheel 5) through the space of one tooth will actuate the marker through twice the distance for double line spacing.

Inside the flanges of the table and rigidly secured to the shaft 7'' are the toothed or sprocket wheels is, while across the top of the table inside the flanges is mounted the auxiliary rotary shaft 0 provided with the flanged rollers 77 fast thereto. Over the toothed wheels 7% and rollers 7? pass the continuously traveling connections in the form of metal bands 9 having perforations r cooperating with the pins 8 on the toothed wheels 70. The bands 9 are secured to the guides Y as by means of the screws t, so that movement of the bands Q imparts movement to the marker C.

The finger bars or levers D and E are con nected to operate the ratchet wheels h and j respectively. The levers D and E are suitably mounted at their inner ends on the rocking arms 14 loosely pivoted on the shaft 7 and suitably mounted at the outer ends on the longer arms 4) of hell crank levers which are loosely pivoted on the shaft 7". The shorter arms '20 of these bell crank levers are provided with pawls w and 7 cooperating respectively with the ratchets It and 7'.

Suitable retracting means are provided cooperating with the levers D and E and in thi instance curved levers 2 and 3 are provided pivoted at each side of a lug t inside the table at the point 5, the outer ends 6 and 7 of these curved levers bearing underneath the lovers D and E respectively. The inner ends 8 and 9 of these curved levers are connected by means of springs 10 to a pin 11 on the stationary arm 12 behind the table so that if either one of the levers D or E is pressed down, one of the springs 10 is placed in tension, and in retracting tends to pull back the inner end of a curved lever, thus forcing the finger bar upwardly again to normal position.

A stop 8, shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is provided adjacent the base of the arm 19', and in the path of the end 9 of the lever 3, so that the forward swing of this lever is limited, while the other lever 2 may swing forward through a greater angle. as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. By this means the wheel 71v for controlling single spacing is moved through a less angular distance when lever D is depressed. than is wheel. j for double spacing when lever E is depressed The operation of the apparatus described is as follows:

Let it be assumed that B represents a sheet of typewritten copy which is placed upon a table A under the clamp P and then the marker C is placed in position transversely across the table, as indicated in the figures. By turning the pawls w and y back wardly by means of the handles 15 and 16, the shaft F may be rotated by means of the crank handle 17 at one side of the device and the rotation of the toothed wheels K moves the traveling connections Q to which the marker C is connected, so that the marker is moved upwardly to the starting point, just below the first line of the copy.

As each line on the copy is copied by the typist and assuming that the copy is in double spacing. the finger bar E is pressed downward and the pawl g which has been moved into engaging position again rotates the ratchet wheel j through the distance of one teeth, which rotation is imparted to the traveling bands 9, thereby moving the marker C downwardly along the table through a distance corresponding to the space between two lines of the copy. lhis step by step operation is continued as long as the spacing of the copy remains the same. In case single spacing is encountered, the finger bar D is manipulated, which causes the pawl a to move the ratchet wheel it through a distance of one tooth, thereby imparting a step by step movement to the marker C corresponding to single spacing. During the feeding movements and the spacing operations, the pawls a: and g are preferably left in an operative engagement with the ratchet wheels and either one or the other is operated as desired. If for any reason it is desired to move the marker C upwardly, during the copying, the pawls a: and 7 are thrown out of engagement with the ratchet wheels and the crank handle 17 is rotated baclmardly, thus shifting the marker upwardly.

Obviously, different forms of operative mechanism may be devised for carrying out the principles of this invention, and I am not to be limited to the details of construction herein disclosed,

I claim and desire to obtain'by Letters Patent the following:

1. A copy holder, comprising in combination a table, ratchet wheels having different numbers of teeth mounted at each side of the lower end of said table, and connected to rotate together, sprocket wheels mounted to turn with said ratchet wheels, rollers mounted behind the top of the table, continuously traveling connections passing over the said sprocket Wheels and rollers, longitudinal guide rods mounted behind the table, slides movable on said guide rods and connected to the continuously traveling connections, a marker connected to said slides, finger bars arranged in front of the lower end of the table, curved rocking arms connected to the inner ends of the finger bars and levers connected to the outer ends of the finger bars, said rocking arms and levers be ing pivoted behind the table, pawls cooperating with the ratchet wheels and actuated by said levers, curved retracting levers pivoted behind the table and extending forwardly beneath the finger bars, retracting means for said retracting levers, and a stop for limiting the movement of one of said retracting levers, whereby the predetermined throw of one finger bar is less than that of the other.

A copy holder, comprising in combination a table, a transverse rotary main shaft revolubly supported behind the lower end of the table, ratchet wheels having difierent numbers of teeth secured at the ends of said main shaft, sprocket wheels secured to the main shaft adjacent the ratchet wheels,

rollers mounted behind the top of the table, continuously traveling connections passing over the said sprocket wheels and rollers, longitudinal guide rods secured behind the table, slides movable on said guide rods and connected to the continuously traveling c011- nections, a marker extending across the table and operatively connected to said slides, finger bars extending transversely across the front of the lower end of the table, curved rocking arms loosely pivoted at the inner ends to the main shaft and connected at the outer ends to the fingerbars, levers loosely pivoted at the inner ends on the main shaft adjacent the ratchet wheels, and connected at the outer ends to the finger bars, pawls actuated by said levers and adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheels, curved retracting levers pivoted behind the table and having the outer ends bearing underneath the finger bars, retracting springs connected to said retracting levers, and a stop for limiting the n' ovement ,of one of said retracting levers, whereby the predetermined throw of one finger bar is less than that of the other.

3. A copy holder, comprising in combination a stand, a table supported by said stand for holding the copy, said table having rearwardly extending side and end walls, a transverse rotary main shaft revolubly supported at the lower end of the table and having its ends extending outwardly beyond the side walls, ratchet wheels having difierent numbers of teeth secured to the outwardly extending ends of the rotary main shaft, sprocket wheels secured to the main shaft within the side walls of the table, a transverse auxiliary rotary shaft mounted at the top of the table beneath the end wall, flanged rollers secured to said auxiliary shaft, continuously traveling connections passing over the said sprocket wheels and flanged rollers, longitudinal guide rods secured to the end walls of the table at top and bottom within the side walls, the side walls being provided with longitudinal slots adjacent the guide rods, slides movable on said guide rods and connected to the continuously traveling connections, connecting pieces carried by the slides and extending outwardly through the slots in the side walls of the table, blocks carried by said connecting pieces, a marker extending across the table and connected to said blocks, finger bars extending transversely across the front of the lower end of the table, curved rocking arms extending through the lower end wall of the table, loosely pivoted on the main rotary shaft and connected. to the inner meeting ends of the finger bars, bell crank levers loosely pivoted on the main shaft adjacent the ratchet wheels and having their longer arms connected to the outer ends of the finger bars, pawls carried by the shorter arms of the said bell said retracting levers, whereby the predecrank levers and adapted to cooperate with terinined throw of one finger bar is less than the respective ratchet wheels, curved i-etractthat of the other.

ing levers pivoted within the table and eX- In testimony whereof I have signed this 5 tending through the lower end wall the specification in the presence of two snhscribl5 outer ends of said retracting levers bearing ing witnesses.

underneath the finger bars, retracting ALICE F. SMITH. springs connected to the inner upwardly eX- Vitnesses: tending ends 01 said retracting levers, and a M. F. GnnMonn,

it stop for limiting the movement of one of M. M. PIEMANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

